Sports, politics, and more politics

Four members of the Indianapolis Colts have been selected to attend the Pro Bowl.

Four Indianapolis Colts have been selected for the Feb. 8 Pro Bowl, including defensive end Robert Mathis who will make his first trip to Honolulu.

Mathis was selected as a backup while Dwight Freeney was named a starter at defensive end along with Houston’s Mario Williams.

Peyton Manning was named the AFC’s starting quarterback while Reggie Wayne was named a backup at wide receiver.

There's a report that the New York Yankees have signed an Iraqi pitcher.

In their latest bid to beef up their pitching rotation for the 2009 season, the New York Yankees today signed Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zeidi to a three-year deal worth $32 million.

The right-handed al-Zeidi, 28, impressed the Yankee scouts with his performance in Baghdad yesterday when he threw both of his shoes at President George W. Bush.

There's yet another vacant Senate seat that will have to be filled when Colorado's Ken Salazar moves in to the Department of the Interior. According to The Fix (see previous link), the best bet on who will be appointed, until the next round of federal elections in 2010, is between Governor Bill Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, Congressman John Salazar, and outgoing state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff. Time will tell as to who will replace Sen. Salazar.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks up for Caroline Kennedy.

And here's what Reid told Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston:
REID: “She's 52 years old. I've spoken to her. She was part of a vetting process for vice presidential choices for Obama. She's lived in government and politics her whole life. I think it would be a tremendous thing. ... We have a lot of stars from New York. Bobby Kennedy. Hillary Clinton. I think Caroline Kennedy would be perfect."

RALSTON: “So, are you going to call the governor of New York and say, “’She's fine in my book?’”

REID: “I already have.”

While Senator John McCain, the 2008 GOP candidate for president, has distanced himself from RNC leadership, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks and he has some tough words for current GOP leadership with regards to disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.

I was saddened to learn that at a time of national trial, when a president-elect is preparing to take office in the midst of the worst financial crisis in over seventy years, that the Republican National Committee is engaged in the sort of negative, attack politics that the voters rejected in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles.

The recent web advertisement, “Questions Remain,” is a destructive distraction. Clearly, we should insist that all taped communications regarding the Senate seat should be made public. However, that should be a matter of public policy, not an excuse for political attack.

In a time when America is facing real challenges, Republicans should be working to help the incoming President succeed in meeting them, regardless of his Party.

From now until the inaugural, Republicans should be offering to help the President-elect prepare to take office.

Furthermore, once President Obama takes office, Republicans should be eager to work with him when he is right, and, when he is wrong, offer a better solution, instead of just opposing him.

This is the only way the Republican Party will become known as the “better solutions” party, not just an opposition party. And this is the only way Republicans will ever regain the trust of the voters to return to the majority.

Perhaps Newt is looking at running in 2012?

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lays it down with Rahm Emanuel.